When I trap water animals I like to drown them, it makes for much less hassle and the animals dead when you get there. I have designed two different locks for your slide wire which have posted on this page ( below and to the left.) I make my drowning locks with bar stock. I simply cut the stock to 2" pieces and then bend one end up about 1/2" from the end so it makes a  90 degree angle. Now drill a hole about a 1/4" from the end on the part you bent up. You are done now. For the other lock which works better in cases do the same as the fist but then add another hole on the long flat part 1/4" from the bend. Then slide your wire through both holes and you are done. When us

ing drowners make sure the top of the "L" is facing the water on the wire, this way the animal can go under water but can not come back up the wire.
      Now on to making a drowning rig. If you are trapping for mink, muskrat, raccoon use 14 gauge wire. If you are going for beaver use no less than 11 gauge wire. I like using stainless steel wire, but this can be hard to come by.
      For constructing the drowning rig you need a stake on both ends of your slide wire. You need one out in the water deep enough to drown your animal, but this must be staked well. Because they will struggle fiercely to get free at the

bottom and can push on the ground with all legs, making it just as easy to pull the stake as if it was on dry land. Now stake the one on dry land really good as well. Now before attaching to one of the stakes put the drowning lock on the wire ( top of the L facing the water) and then attach to the last stake. Now attach your trap's chain to the lock by wiring it with the same gauge wire you used for your slide. Now make your set, bed the trap and you are ready to go. When you catch an animal it should be out in the water at the end of your slide wire, dead, and waiting to be picked up. This is also nice because it keeps your set in good condition, making it easy to reset the trap and be on your way. Good luck and Tight chains!
Steve